Lighter Curry says he’s feeling like a defensive back

Aaron Curry was packing more helmets, but less weight, as the rookie linebacker continued his rapid-fire introduction Monday into the Seattle Seahawks training camp.

After carrying four helmets and an extra set of shoulder pads off the practice field Monday for teammates happy to heap a little more rookie hazing on the team’s newly signed first-round draft pick, Curry said he felt great in his third day on the field with the team.

Aaron Curry, shown here in an earlier mini-camp, says he’s back to the 247 pounds he used to weigh as a junior at Wake Forest. (AP file photo)

Curry said he’s lost 12 pounds since the Seahawks’ offseason minicamps, down to 247, as he worked himself into prime condition for his NFL debut.

It’s the lightest he’s been since his junior year at Wake Forest when he returned three interceptions for touchdowns to tie an NCAA single-season record for a linebacker.

The Seahawks list him at 6-foot-2, 254 pounds and he played at 250 in his senior season of college. But the 23-year-old said speed is more important than bulk.

“I want to be in that 247 range. That’s when I feel like a (defensive back),” he said. “Last year I was around 250, but my junior season when I had all those interceptions returned to the house, I was weighing 247 or 248.

“That’s where I feel my best. That’s where I feel like an LT and Ed Reed mix.”

Yes, that would be a reference to former New York Giants linebacking legend Lawrence Taylor and current Baltimore Ravens standout safety Ed Reed.

And, yes, the Seahawks would be just fine with that sort of impact from the man they selected with the fourth pick in the draft and just signed to a six-year, $60 million contract.

But while Curry is thinking big, he’s aware this is all a long process that’s just beginning. He posed for pictures with fans after Monday’s practice, shook hands with sponsors, went on the radio for a live 710 ESPN interview with Kevin Calabro and then returned to where he’d set down his collection of helmets and pads from his on-going hazing.

“It’s just something I know I’ve got to do,” he said with a smile. “Leaving college I went from being the big fish in the pond to just an itsy, bitsy goldfish. My thing is to do whatever it takes to gain the respect of the vets, which means practicing hard, playing hard, studying time, putting extra time in … and carrying helmets.

“Life hasn’t changed much for me. No matter how much they pay me or don’t pay me, my passion will always be to just play football. I’m just happy to be out here enjoying my teammates, flying around and doing what I really love.”

He flew around running back Justin Forsett in a couple one-on-one pass rush drills, showing the speed and power the Seahawks crave. He ran with the first-unit offense on a day when Lofa Tatupu again sat out most of the drills to rest up.

Curry said he’s spending an extra 90 minutes every night with linebacker coach Zerick Rollins going over the playbook to speed his catch-up process after missing the first eight days of camp in contract negotiations.

But on the field, he said he’s just fine and ready to play Saturday’s preseason opener at San Diego if the coaches deem him adequately prepared.

“I’m feeling pretty comfortable,” he said. “One thing about playing defense, especially if you’re a linebacker, you can’t go wrong just playing fast and hitting something.”

Other news from Monday’s camp:

Enough is enough: Things got a little chippy between the wide receivers and a group of defensive backs who might be tiring of drills that often favor the offense.

Josh Wilson

Cornerback Josh Wilson and young receiver Michael Bumpus squared off in a brief fight after the two pushed each other several times, began jawing and then started tossing punches. Teammates swooped in and tackled the two to the ground before pulling them apart.

In a one-on-one drill moments later, the two matched up against each other and Wilson smacked Bumpus to the ground instead of sliding off as usually happens in a practice situation after the former Cougar caught a little square-in.

Mike Hass, who had a nice day catching the ball, took a hard shoulder pop from cornerback Marquis Floyd shortly after that and sent his teammate a long look, but peace was maintained.

A good day for defense: Despite the absence of Lofa Tatupu, who took it easy for the third straight day to heal up some aches and pains, the defense made life a little rough for the offensive side in the final team session.

In one stretch, Matt Hasselbeck was intercepted by Wilson on one play and then sacked on back-to-back plays (though with no contact, actions just stops when the quarterback is obviously trapped).

Later, cornerback Kelly Jennings came free on a blitz that likely would have been a sack and then linebacker Leroy Hill chased Hasselbeck out of bounds coming from the same left side.

Offensive line puzzle: Though some of the offensive struggles can be blamed on learning a new system being installed by coordinator Greg Knapp, it doesn’t help that the line continues being shuffled by injuries.

With left tackle Walter Jones (back), left guard Mike Wahle (retired with a shoulder injury) and center Chris Spencer (ankle) all missing from the expected front wall, the current front five consists of Sean Locklear, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Mansfield Wrotto and Ray Willis.

Rookie Max Unger continues getting time at both guard and center, tackle Na’Shan Goddard has started to get some looks at guard and the coaches are still hopeful of giving Locklear a look at guard even though he hasn’t played there since his junior year in college.

“It’s good and bad,” Knapp said of the need to move players around. “The good is since we only suit up seven on Sundays, they’re getting a chance to play multiple positions, which you’re going to have to do. We have to suit up an extra guy that can play guard-tackle and one who can play center-guard.

“The negativity is that you’re not getting the same five together. But we’re still early in camp. Sometimes we forget it’s only been one week of camp and we still have four preseason games, plus another week. So there’s plenty of time to still get that together. So we’re taking advantage of the opportunity now of getting guys dual-trained.”

That’s putting a smiley face on a tough situation, but at this point, the Seahawks have no other choice.

Injury update: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh joined the sidelined crew with a sore ankle, though he appeared to be walking just fine and isn’t expected out long. WR Courtney Taylor was also out for the first time with a sore knee.

DBs Deon Grant and Josh Wilson were limited late in practice by sore groins. LB Lofa Tatupu was limited for the third straight day to apparently rest up some general aches and pains.